How cute~. Alastor cupped his cheek with his free hand, crossing his legs coquettishly. "Darling, darling~" Alastor's voice lilted as he leaned in and pressed a little kiss to Lucifer's cheek, "getting distracted from your work already?"
"Good boy~" Alastor chuckled, patting Lucifer's hair playfully as he stood, himself - he didn't suspect Lucifer had the willpower to part as easily. "I'm only a summons away, but for now, our duties call!"
Time to unclog toilets or whatever other degrading hotelier jobs pop up in the interim. The price one pays for a stage set correctly, alas!
Lucifer would have been (marginally) okay unclogging toilets rather than what he had to deal with...
The lists of freshly-fallen Sinners always needed a once-over before being added to the archive, for one. He had people for that, but the more he actually oversaw the process, the less he was pestered about seeing to the task later. It wasn't like he knew more than Heaven did on how souls were judged, but whatever-
Then the Goetia always had some squabble of some sort. He would be seated in his throne and hear the pleas from two, three, and sometimes even more sides before using his authority to render judgment on how to proceed. Sometimes they were very heavy, important matters, but in others... who cared if some Prince Stolas Ars Goetia was fucking an imp and cheated on his wife? Really, truly, who gives a fuck-
Lastly, Lucifer all but dragged himself into a chair and endured a phonecall involving that watch unveiling. Before it would begin full production, it would increase the value be an honor for the King himself to see the prototype and give his appraisal. At least this phone call came with a little ass-kissing, but he'd dealt with this fella before. Complete dick, always screwed the consumer, but what else was new with Overlords running their own businesses...?
All the while, he was checking the clock. All the while, he was checking for messages that would save him. Maybe Charlie needed help with something or... or anything at all, really...!
Oh, nothing too exciting going on downstairs. The Hotel being so new, there's less of a futility in upkeep and maintenance - Alastor assists in evaluating the pest problem (damn roaches were enjoying finding new ways into their much nicer new walls) and enabling Niffty with a sharpening of her sewing needle. ...Anything to keep her from eagerly prying for more information about his relationship, thanks.
Then it's a review of the financials and the budgeting - he's still a bit behind after his November 'vacation', but now is a good of a time as any, he supposes. Writing up a few promotional advertisements for his broadcasts... and then it's off to the kitchen to see how the gumbo's doing after cooking since early in the morning. Mm, perfect, not much longer and it'll be dinner time. And not a peep from Lucifer.
By the time he was able to weave that portal, all he wanted was to take another nap. But with a deep, cleansing breath, he stepped on through and into the lobby of the Hotel.
"I WAS... ✨PRODUCTIVE!✨" Arms out, he decided on theatrics primarily to make himself feel better. Angel Dust, lounging on the couch nearby and was now beyond confused, gave a half-hearted golf clap before he returned to his popsicle and magazine.
Charlie jumped a little bit - she and Vaggie were just now cleaning up from today's Goodness Exercises, putting away the roleplaying costumes and the little set pieces (Charlie had gone a little overboard this time, she couldn't help it!)
"Oh! Hi, dad, are you feeling better?" the Princess piped up, leaving her little task to see him.
"OH! Oh, yeah, this time of year is just a nightmare, stress hits the nerves, y'know? The Goetia like to save up all their drama for the end of the year so they all hit me at once, then there's all the wrap-up stuff before the new year- especially since Heaven got sent back with their tails between their legs, ho ho hoh- aaaand-"
"Fit as a fiddle! The jitters will pass!" He propped his hands on his hips. "Especially now that I've got all that done and the weight of that can slide right off, water off the duck's back! It was kinda... postponed a bit when I took my trip."
He dusted off his hands. "Got one thing left on my plate, but pfft, that's more for fun than anything else. Got a fella that wants to be the next Richard Mille and runs his prototypes by me, but his watches arrrrre..."
"This would be his twentieth release, Charlie! And you know what he does? He takes my criticisms- and they started real polite, 'cause I wanna give another person with interest in things like watch-making a chance- but he always, ALWAYS takes these awful little shortcuts! Like- like-"
He slapped the back of his hand into his other palm. "Jewels! More doesn't always mean better, but he thought having a higher jewel count makes him better than the competition! Then the alloys he uses for some of the parts are things he NEVER stops cheaping out on! You want watches to last! You want something to maybe pass down, or- or- treat like the works of art they are, but if you put in some dime-a-dozen parts that were sitting in the sun too long and get warped- which gums up the clockwork, for one thing- or even cheap out on the points and and plates so that even something important like oil gunks up or- heaven forbid- CORRODES the inner workings and you just get dead watches...!!"
He started to pace. "And I get the scheme: Keep paying for repairs, keep buying replacements! But that's just throwing parts away, that's throwing time pieces away! It's wasteful! It's... it's an insult to the art, the craftsmanship, the beauty of all those little pieces working together, and...!"
He stopped, short of breath. After the pause, he stood upright and smoothed back his hair. Deep breath.
"He does it to annoy me, Charlie. It's why he turns to me and not just some other guy who died and fell down here who used to work with Rolexes or something. He thinks maybe one day he can make something that passes me unnoticed and can market the Hell out of it like 'The King Approves!!', so I have to be hard on him. I have to tear his prototypes apart. I call it more of a 'rivalry' than anything else, and catching his stupid ways of cheaping out is- as frustrating as the insult to craftsmanship this is- weirdly... angry-fun? Fangry?"
She didn't really understand the mechanics of a watch, but the point comes across...! And Charlie sort of gawks for a moment, because, well...
...This isn't a side of her dad she's ever seen before. He's so... passionate. Genuinely emphatically impassioned about the craftsmanship, the art... that made sense with how she remembered him loving to create. For just a moment, Charlie felt a little bit like those rare moments where she'd crawl in his lap and he'd show her what he was tinkering with, what his plans with it were... or stories about things he created.
As he rambled she'd put her hands behind her back, rocking a little on her toes to contain her giddiness. That's her dad.
"You know, I think if he hasn't given up on trying then it's good you're not going easy on him! You can't cut corners if you want to make something special, maybe he'll learn that eventually," or maybe not! Not all Sinners were ready or open to changing themselves for the better, after all. "But I bet it'll be tough when he DOES make something good... it'd be no good if he took that one victory and then slacked for the rest of what he made."
"If he had pride, he wouldn't accept just one victory. He should work on a streak. I would, were I in his position." He crossed his arms.
"And before you ask, I've got a few pieces around here somewhere. The von Eldritches have one, for sure. One I gave to Mammon, but knowing him, it's probably floating somewhere gathering dust or probably sitting sad and lonely in a pawn shop somewhere in Hell, where the people around it are unaware of its value. ...But I have a stamp, if you know to look for it. I sometimes wonder if he still has it, and think about searching for it, but... well, where would I start?"
He shrugged vaguely. Despite how dismissive he seemed of it, his expression painted something different. There was a small shadow of sorrow that flashed past.
"Uncle Mammon? Well..." Charlie trailed off a bit. She didn't talk to Mammon very much these days, but... that funny uncle of hers did bring a lot of colorful smiles around the Palace when she was little. Or was that just how she remembered it, since she WAS little?
"Maybe he did. But if it's a one-of-a-kind item, maybe it's too priceless to get rid of. Or maybe he gave it to someone special?"
He really hoped that at least the novelty of it tickled the value-minded corner of Mammon's mind, rather than the get-rich-quick. He was flighty, impulsive, but he remembered when he knew of the value of things.
And how to make people laugh.
Lucifer slid the mask back on and laughed, gave Charlie a pat. "I hope so! Someone special for old Mamm, huh? Can you imagine? Maybe then he won't need all those spooky robots to keep him company! They can't be good conversationalists."
A beat. He reached for his phone and opened up his notepad to tap away. "'Note to self- Poker Night with Mamm'. You know, it's been a good decade or so. He's due to have his butt kicked again, and I can rope Bee, Satan, Levi and Bel in. ...Oz, too. Maybe having the others around will keep he and Mamm from fighting."
"Oh! Can I come too? I-- I feel like I haven't seen most of them in forever. Except for Aunt Bel for my checkups!"
Mom had... usually said the other Sins were busy. Or not a good influence, in a few cases. But... maybe mom just wasn't really right about most of that. Maybe she wanted to make decisions for herself, and see the faces of those that would visit when she was little.
He blinked up at her in a bit of surprise, a sharp twist in his chest. Lily... did you have a hand in that, too?
"Of- ...of course!"
Lucifer broke into a grin. "Yeah! We'll put a dent in all the great snacks your Aunt Bee always brings, everybody brings some good tunes, we throw some cards, talk some shit, it'll be a fantastic time!!"
He opened up the group chat, mind set. Mass invite sent! Let's do some damned Poker and shoot the breeze, catch up and let them dote on their niece. He just needed to make sure to dodge Satan's cigar offers and not accept drinks from Bee is all. He needed to work on his swerves.
"You know Texas hold 'em? If not, I can show you the ropes."
"Oh, oh! I happen to know some veeeeery talented Sinners around here that could help us have a little learning night for iiiiit~" Charlie beamed excitedly, getting an amused snort from Angel on the sofa and a faint grunt from Husk behind the bar.
"Babe," Vaggie wandered over to join the conversation properly, "we do want to avoid gambling in the Hotel, it's one of those temptations--"
"We can gamble using peanuts! It's fiiiine, it's just a game with friends! Whaddya think, Husk?"
"Takes all the fun outta it," Husk curled a lip before sucking down some alcohol.
"Peanuts, matches, anything works. Besides... I picked up the game when it first came to be over two-hundred years ago. The humans would always try for a touch of prestige and bragging rights, but... hahah... I'm not exactly a slouch."
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sugaronthecream) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
divinetree2024-04-01 08:17 am
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Probably wasn't important. What was, however, was kissing up Alastor's arm as far as he could reach.
"Such generosity and consideration... that you've a pairing for each of them...!"
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But there was always later. Always later. Reminded that he shouldn't put things off for yet another day, he eased himself away.
"Alas, you're right! I must be off, check the numbers, see who needs to tug on one of my wings for a while before I can taste freedom again!"
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Time to unclog toilets or whatever other degrading hotelier jobs pop up in the interim. The price one pays for a stage set correctly, alas!
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The lists of freshly-fallen Sinners always needed a once-over before being added to the archive, for one. He had people for that, but the more he actually oversaw the process, the less he was pestered about seeing to the task later. It wasn't like he knew more than Heaven did on how souls were judged, but whatever-
Then the Goetia always had some squabble of some sort. He would be seated in his throne and hear the pleas from two, three, and sometimes even more sides before using his authority to render judgment on how to proceed. Sometimes they were very heavy, important matters, but in others... who cared if some Prince Stolas Ars Goetia was fucking an imp and cheated on his wife? Really, truly, who gives a fuck-
Lastly, Lucifer all but dragged himself into a chair and endured a phonecall involving that watch unveiling. Before it would begin full production, it would increase the value be an honor for the King himself to see the prototype and give his appraisal. At least this phone call came with a little ass-kissing, but he'd dealt with this fella before. Complete dick, always screwed the consumer, but what else was new with Overlords running their own businesses...?
All the while, he was checking the clock. All the while, he was checking for messages that would save him. Maybe Charlie needed help with something or... or anything at all, really...!
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Then it's a review of the financials and the budgeting - he's still a bit behind after his November 'vacation', but now is a good of a time as any, he supposes. Writing up a few promotional advertisements for his broadcasts... and then it's off to the kitchen to see how the gumbo's doing after cooking since early in the morning. Mm, perfect, not much longer and it'll be dinner time. And not a peep from Lucifer.
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"I WAS... ✨PRODUCTIVE!✨" Arms out, he decided on theatrics primarily to make himself feel better. Angel Dust, lounging on the couch nearby and was now beyond confused, gave a half-hearted golf clap before he returned to his popsicle and magazine.
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"Oh! Hi, dad, are you feeling better?" the Princess piped up, leaving her little task to see him.
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"OH! Oh, yeah, this time of year is just a nightmare, stress hits the nerves, y'know? The Goetia like to save up all their drama for the end of the year so they all hit me at once, then there's all the wrap-up stuff before the new year- especially since Heaven got sent back with their tails between their legs, ho ho hoh- aaaand-"
Deep breath, ease it out.
"Yeah! Yeah, I'm- I'm good." Ahem. "Sorry, for- y'know, for worrying you."
Nailed it.
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Even Vaggie peeks up from where she was folding costumes to raise an eyebrow. Like father, like daughter.
"Ooookay. Are you sure you're okay?"
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He dusted off his hands. "Got one thing left on my plate, but pfft, that's more for fun than anything else. Got a fella that wants to be the next Richard Mille and runs his prototypes by me, but his watches arrrrre..."
Not great? Could be better?
"...Crrrap."
Yeah. Let's be honest.
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"W-well, hopefully soooome constructive criticism was what he needed to figure out where to grow from there?"
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"This would be his twentieth release, Charlie! And you know what he does? He takes my criticisms- and they started real polite, 'cause I wanna give another person with interest in things like watch-making a chance- but he always, ALWAYS takes these awful little shortcuts! Like- like-"
He slapped the back of his hand into his other palm. "Jewels! More doesn't always mean better, but he thought having a higher jewel count makes him better than the competition! Then the alloys he uses for some of the parts are things he NEVER stops cheaping out on! You want watches to last! You want something to maybe pass down, or- or- treat like the works of art they are, but if you put in some dime-a-dozen parts that were sitting in the sun too long and get warped- which gums up the clockwork, for one thing- or even cheap out on the points and and plates so that even something important like oil gunks up or- heaven forbid- CORRODES the inner workings and you just get dead watches...!!"
He started to pace. "And I get the scheme: Keep paying for repairs, keep buying replacements! But that's just throwing parts away, that's throwing time pieces away! It's wasteful! It's... it's an insult to the art, the craftsmanship, the beauty of all those little pieces working together, and...!"
He stopped, short of breath. After the pause, he stood upright and smoothed back his hair. Deep breath.
"He does it to annoy me, Charlie. It's why he turns to me and not just some other guy who died and fell down here who used to work with Rolexes or something. He thinks maybe one day he can make something that passes me unnoticed and can market the Hell out of it like 'The King Approves!!', so I have to be hard on him. I have to tear his prototypes apart. I call it more of a 'rivalry' than anything else, and catching his stupid ways of cheaping out is- as frustrating as the insult to craftsmanship this is- weirdly... angry-fun? Fangry?"
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...This isn't a side of her dad she's ever seen before. He's so... passionate. Genuinely emphatically impassioned about the craftsmanship, the art... that made sense with how she remembered him loving to create. For just a moment, Charlie felt a little bit like those rare moments where she'd crawl in his lap and he'd show her what he was tinkering with, what his plans with it were... or stories about things he created.
As he rambled she'd put her hands behind her back, rocking a little on her toes to contain her giddiness. That's her dad.
"You know, I think if he hasn't given up on trying then it's good you're not going easy on him! You can't cut corners if you want to make something special, maybe he'll learn that eventually," or maybe not! Not all Sinners were ready or open to changing themselves for the better, after all. "But I bet it'll be tough when he DOES make something good... it'd be no good if he took that one victory and then slacked for the rest of what he made."
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"And before you ask, I've got a few pieces around here somewhere. The von Eldritches have one, for sure. One I gave to Mammon, but knowing him, it's probably floating somewhere gathering dust or probably sitting sad and lonely in a pawn shop somewhere in Hell, where the people around it are unaware of its value. ...But I have a stamp, if you know to look for it. I sometimes wonder if he still has it, and think about searching for it, but... well, where would I start?"
He shrugged vaguely. Despite how dismissive he seemed of it, his expression painted something different. There was a small shadow of sorrow that flashed past.
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"Maybe he did. But if it's a one-of-a-kind item, maybe it's too priceless to get rid of. Or maybe he gave it to someone special?"
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And how to make people laugh.
Lucifer slid the mask back on and laughed, gave Charlie a pat. "I hope so! Someone special for old Mamm, huh? Can you imagine? Maybe then he won't need all those spooky robots to keep him company! They can't be good conversationalists."
A beat. He reached for his phone and opened up his notepad to tap away. "'Note to self- Poker Night with Mamm'. You know, it's been a good decade or so. He's due to have his butt kicked again, and I can rope Bee, Satan, Levi and Bel in. ...Oz, too. Maybe having the others around will keep he and Mamm from fighting."
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Mom had... usually said the other Sins were busy. Or not a good influence, in a few cases. But... maybe mom just wasn't really right about most of that. Maybe she wanted to make decisions for herself, and see the faces of those that would visit when she was little.
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"Of- ...of course!"
Lucifer broke into a grin. "Yeah! We'll put a dent in all the great snacks your Aunt Bee always brings, everybody brings some good tunes, we throw some cards, talk some shit, it'll be a fantastic time!!"
He opened up the group chat, mind set. Mass invite sent! Let's do some damned Poker and shoot the breeze, catch up and let them dote on their niece. He just needed to make sure to dodge Satan's cigar offers and not accept drinks from Bee is all. He needed to work on his swerves.
"You know Texas hold 'em? If not, I can show you the ropes."
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"Babe," Vaggie wandered over to join the conversation properly, "we do want to avoid gambling in the Hotel, it's one of those temptations--"
"We can gamble using peanuts! It's fiiiine, it's just a game with friends! Whaddya think, Husk?"
"Takes all the fun outta it," Husk curled a lip before sucking down some alcohol.
"Perfect! That sounds like so much fun!"
1/2
"Peanuts, matches, anything works. Besides... I picked up the game when it first came to be over two-hundred years ago. The humans would always try for a touch of prestige and bragging rights, but... hahah... I'm not exactly a slouch."
2/2
He brought a hand to the side of his mouth to call:
"You can join us under the stipulation that there'll be no shadow peeking."
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Charlie made a face. Oh no. Oh no, they're going to get really competitive......
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"He hasn't played against your old man yet."
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"Now now. Just because you're my bedfellow now doesn't mean I'm going to go easy on you, sha. I'll have you molting all over again!"
Vaggie's turn to bury her face in her hand.
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